Bhubaneswar: The stage is all set in Bhubaneswar as one of the state’s premier theatre institutions, ‘Shatbadira Kalakar’, which is celebrating its golden jubilee year this year, is gearing up for its five-day annual theatre festival ‘28th National Kalinga Natya Mahotsav’ at Rabindra Mandap here from February 20 to February 24, promising drama, diversity and dazzling performances.
Informing the journalists details about the six plays to be staged on five evenings at a press conference on Wednesday, the theatre group’s president Dr Gourahari Das and general secretary Mr Dhira Mallick said the entry to the festival will be free, inviting theatre lovers to turn out in large numbers and make the festival a huge success.
On the inaugural evening, the artistes of ‘Shatabdira Kalakar’ will stage ‘Maha Sangramara Maha Nayak’, an Odia play, written by former Governor of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and directed by Dhira Mallick. The production promises to strike a powerful opening note.
On February 21, a Bengali play ‘Andha Yug’ will be staged by ‘Ebam Amra’ theatre group from West Bengal. The play is written by Dharambir Bharati, while Kallol Bhattacharya has adopted and directed it.
On the third evening, the theatre lovers will be treated to a Hindi play ‘Ab Na Banegi Dehari’. The play will be staged by ‘Bharatendu Natya Academy’, from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Adapted from a novel by Padma Sachdev, dramatized by Asif Ali and directed by Bipin Kumar, the play adds another vibrant hue to the festival’s canvas.
The penultimate evening promises a double delight. At 5 pm, ‘Maya Mridang’, a Bengali play, written and directed by Rakesh Ghose, will be staged by Dumdum Sabdomugdho Natya Kendra from West Bengal. Later at 7.30 pm, Masoom Art Group from Jharkhand will present the Hindi play Sandhyatara, written and directed by Saikat Chattopadhyaya.
The concluding evening will offer an Odia play ‘Karna’, by Uttar Purush theatre group from Bhubaneswar. Written by Dr Bijaya Satpathy and direction by Dr Prasanna Mishra, the play is expected to leave audiences spellbound.
Apart from staging plays, ‘Shatabdira Kalakar’ also felicitates personalities who have carved a niche in the theatre world.
This year as many as 21 personalities will be felicitated.
Here is the list:
Sumitra Samman: Itirani Samant, editor of Kadambini
Sumitra Samman: Tanaya Pattanayak, editor of Sambad
Sumitra Samman: Manas Ranjan Gadanayak, playwright
Pramila Pratibha Samman: Manjulata Samal, playwright and actress
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Binay Das, music director
Lifetime Achievement Samman: Kartik Chandra Sahoo, actor (Shatandira Kalakar)
Lifetime Achievement Samman: Er Bighnaraj Jena, actor (Shabdira Kalakar)
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Narasingha Parida, photo journalist
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Anil Patra, organiser, director and actor (Berhampur)
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Anugraha Dixit, actor (Berhampur)
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Gourang Barik, director (Bhadrak)
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Pramod Dandasena, director (Baliguda)
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Ranjana Nayak, journalist
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Prashant Paikray, journalist
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Bipanchi Das, Odissi dancer
Shatabdira Kalakar Samman: Subhranshu Sutar, journalist
Natyakar Rabindra Dash Samman: Chinmay Das Pattanayak, playwright and director (Baripada)
Natyakar Rabindra Dash Samman: Subash Pradhan, playwright and director (Belpahad)
Lifetime Achievement Samman: Parthabar Bhuyan, actor (Shatabdira Kalakar)
Lifetime Achievement Samman: Kaliprasanna Mallick, actor (Shatabdira Kalakar)
Dr Gayadhar Samman: Samita Mohanty, actress
Established on April 18, 1976, Satabdira Kalakar has won many hats over the decades-— from staging new productions and hosting workshops to organising children’s theatre festivals and national theatre conclaves. With over 250 plays performed across India, the group has stood the test of time. In 1988, it staged 40 shows of ‘Jay Jagannath’ in 62 days during Bharat Mahotsav in Russia, earning accolades far beyond Indian shores.
As Shatabdira Kalakar is celebrating its golden jubilee, theatre lovers can look forward to five evenings where the spotlight never dims and the magic of live performance takes centre stage.
